Accordion



April 24, 1951 YEAGER 2,550,320

ACCORDION Filed Dec. 4, 1944 fizlrzrfl eayer' Patented Apr. 24, 1951 ACCORDION Albert J. Yeager, Longmont, Colo. Application December 4, 1944, Serial No. 566,520 1 Claim. (01. 84-376) This invention relates to improvements in accordions and it'is primarily an object of the invention to provide means to control the actionv ward or dropping movement whereby may be allowed free and independent fingering of the basses.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an accordion with yielding means for supporting the bottom or bass box of the instrument in a manner to give a smooth flow of tone by eliminating lapse of music when the bellows changes from inward motion to outward motion;

or vice versa.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved accordion whereby certain important advantages are attained and the article rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the bottom end of an accordion showing the present invention; and.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes an accordion of a piano type and which includes the top or reed sound box S and the bottom or bass sound box T connected by the intermediate bellows B. The foregoing parts in their details form no part of the present invention and may be of such type or design as preferred.

Adjacent end walls 8 and 2 of the boxes S and T, respectively, have secured thereto the elongated strips 3 and 4, the strip 3 being of the wall I and the strip 4 being on the wall 2. These strips may be of aluminum or other desired material possessing requisite strength and each of 2 1; these strips 3 and 4 is held in position by the, bolts 5 disposed through the strips 3 or 4 at desired points spaced lengthwise thereof and en gaged with the adjacent end wall I or. 2. Sur

. rounding each oftheebolts 5 and-interposedfbetween the strip 3 or4 and the wall I or 2 is a spacer washer 6. The strips 3 and 4 are disposed in the same general direction and are substantially coextensive in length. The strip 3 is shown as arcuate with its outbow upwardly directed when the strip is applied for the purpose of longer springs and to leave room in the are for customary stationary fastener at the bottom. The strip 4 is herein disclosed as straight from end to end.

Engaged with and interposed between the strips 3 and 4 are the retractile springs 1, illustrated in the accompanying drawing as four in number although this number may be varied as preferred. The springs 1 allow the bellows B to open slower at the bottom than at the top which is an essential principle in the playing of an accordion. The weight of the accordion extends the springs 1 on the retractive action of the springs thus relieving the left hand of considerable weight while playing. The springs 1 cperate to start the inward movement of the bottom portion of the bellows while the top portion is still expanding or going out whereby is assured a steady flow of tone as the top or reed box S will be maintained with the desired air. It will be therefore readily apparent that when playing there will be no lapse of the music while changing from the inward motion to the outward motion of the bellows or vice versa.

In addition to keeping the reed box S supplied with air at all times, the springs l aid in holding the bottom or bass box T against dropping and substantially rigid thereby allowing free and independent fingering for the basses which is especially useful in playing a mazurka and bellows shake which requires short and quick bellow action. It keeps the instrument from bulging and swaying as the bellows are opened and closed. It compels correct manipulation of the bellows. This is a great aid in producing the accordion laugh, a clever accordion trick. The full responsibility in the effect of the laugh lies in the manipulation of the bellows.

The springs l and the mountings therefor are very light and when applied are practically unnoticeable. They can be placed on a new or used accordion and while a piano accordion has hereinbefore been particularly referred to, the springs can be employed to advantage with the old style button accordion or the well known chromatic accordion. The springs 1 are of great value both to beginners and to the most accomplished players.

The spacer washers 6 are used to set springs 1 away from the bellows B so they will not touch and at the same time protect bellows B from anything else touching them and increase life of the bellows.

From the foregoing .descriptionzit is thought to be obvious that an accordion constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and used, and it will also beobviousthat my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the prin ciples and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to .the precise arrangement, and formation of the several partsherein shown lncarrying outmy invention in practice except 'as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In an accordion of the .piano type, including an upper and a lower sound box and an interconnecting bellows, supports at the corners of the bottom of said lower box, a bar secured crosswise of one of the end walls of said lower box adjacent the lower edge thereof, an arcuate bar secured crosswise of a corresponding end wall of said upper box adjacent the lower edge of the same, and pairs of coil springs interconnecting said bars at'eachend of'said boxes, one pair of saidsprings being disposed at each side of the vertical centers of said boxes and in a downward and outward diverging relation with respect thereto and to each other.

ALBERT J. YEAGER.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

IUNITED .I STATES .PATENTS Number Name Date 1,882,960 Sater Oct. 18, 1932 2,065,574 Galanti Dec. 29, 1936 

